Hardeeville ethics complaint expected on May agenda

An ethics complaint filed by a Hardeeville City Council candidate is expected to be on the State Ethics Commission’s May agenda.

Scott Ready, 49, disqualified as a candidate for City Council by the Hardeeville Municipal Election Commission on March 15, filed on March 16 a complaint with the state citing potential conflict of interest.

Ready alleges conflict of interest as one of the members of the three-person commission who ruled him ineligible is related to incumbent Roy Powell who is seeking re-election in the May 8 city elections.

The State Ethics Commission will discuss investigations of probable cause May 16, said Cathy Hazelwood, deputy director and general counsel for the state commission.

She said May 16 would be the earliest date when any information concerning a possible investigation into the actions of the local election commission might become public.

Hardeeville City Manager Bob Nanni, Ready and City Attorney David Tedder all said Tuesday they have not received any information about an investigation.

Hazelwood said in March after her office received the complaint letter from Ready that in the case of a filed complaint, the process begins when and if the ethics commission decides to bring its own complaint and initiate an investigation. Until a decision is made as to the existence or lack of probable cause, any investigation would remain confidential, she said. When the ethics commission concludes its investigation, that would then become public information, Hazelwood said.

The local election commission ruled Ready ineligible at a special-called meeting because of an error on his Statement of Economic Interests. Ready marked “elected” instead of “candidate” on the form.

The local election commission is comprised of Joyce Meeks, chair, and Mae Montgomery and Lyndia Daniels, and is appointed by City Council. Meeks is Powell’s mother-in-law.

Ready filed to run for one of two City Council against incumbents Powell and Mike Sweeney. If Ready’s disqualification had been upheld, the incumbents would be unopposed and there would be no need for an election.

After filing his ethics complaint, Ready on March 21 filed to run as a write-in candidate.

During an April 4 emergency hearing, 14th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Carmen Mullen overturned the local election commission’s ruling that disqualified Ready and declared him eligible to be placed on the ballot.

After about a 20-minute hearing, Mullen ruled that the election commission erred as a matter of law in its decision to disqualify Ready.

The other issues in the appeal involved whether the election commission violated Ready’s right to due process; whether member Meeks had a conflict of interest because she is Powell’s mother-in-law; and whether the commission denied equal protection of law to Ready.

KEY DATES

Feb. 8 — Filing opened at noon for Hardeeville City Council and mayoral candidates

Feb. 24 — Scott Ready files paperwork to run for City Council

March 8 — Filing deadline closes at noon

March 8 — All three members of the Hardeeville Municipal Election Commission certify closing of candidate filing at 1 p.m. Commission notifies City Clerk Lori Pomarico of error on Ready’s Statement of Economic Interest (SEI).

March 8, 2:34 p.m. — Pomarico notifies Scott Ready of the error in his online SEI.

March 8, 2:47 p.m. — Ready makes amendment/correction to online SEI.

March 8 — Joyce Meeks, MEC chair, asked Pomarico to arrange a special emergency meeting of the local election commission to determine the qualifications of the candidates.

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